Apparatus for carbureting air



(No MudeL) -3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A'. B. ALDRICH; APPARATUS FOR GARBURETING AIR.

No. 544,945. I Patented Aug. 20, 1895.

Maw/602". oZZZerZZTvfMrzk/Z 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

A. E. ALDRICH.

APPARATUS FOR OARBURBTING AIR. No. 544,945. Patented Aug. 20, 189 5.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

A. E. ALDRICH. APPARATUS FOR GARBURBTING AIR.

Patented Aug. 20, 1895.

mirzems e W UNITED STATES 7 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT E. Annalee, on LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

APP ARAT US FOR CARB U RETING AIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Paella No. 544,945,dated August20, 1395.. Application filed May 2, i295. Serial No. 547,901. Y (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern: .1

Be it known that I, ALBERT E. ALDRICH, a 1 citizen of the United States,residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State ofKentucky,have invented new and useful, Improvements in Apparatus forManufacturing Gas, of which the following is a specificaion.

This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of gas forheating and illuminating purposes from a hydrocarbon liquid, such asgasoline, adapted to carburet a vol-' ume of compressed air; and theinvention consists in the novel features of construction 3 andcombinations of devices,as hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is apartly-sectional elevation of my improved gasmaking apparatus. Fig. 2 isa view of one form. of air-compressor from the side opposite to thatshown in the preceding figure. Fig. 3 is a partly-' sectional viewillustrating the operation or the safety-valve for the compressed-airreservoir, and showing a carburetor arranged within the gas-holder. Fig.4 is a partly-sectional elevation illustrating a formof air compressorarranged more particularly for operation by power. Fig. 5 is a View ofthe gas-making apparatus as inclosed in a cabinet for household uses.Fig. 6 is a view illustrating a modification in the carburetor.

In the drawings, the reference-numeral 1 designates a cabinet or. casingin which are inclosed the gas-holder 2, air pump or compressor 3, andother parts of a portable gasmaking apparatus constructed according tomy invention and adapted to furnish gas for illuminating, heating, andcooking purposes. The contents of the cabinet 1 may constitute a handgas-machine, to be located at any convenient point in or adjacent to adwelling, and which need not occupy a floor-space of more than two byfour feet, but it is obvious that the apparatus may have any requireddimensions, according to circumstances. The carburetor 4 ispreferablyinclosed in a separate cabinet or casing 5, designed to be placed out ofdoors at any desired distance from buildings .to be supplied with gas,and is to be connected with the air-pump and the gasholderby means ofsuitable pipes.

Communicating with the top ofthe carburetor is a filling-nozzle 7,fitted with a cock -8,"above which a rubber-hushed inlet 9 is provided.1

I In supplying the carburetor with hydrocarbon a can containing, say,five or more gal ions of gasoline or other suitable liquid hydrocarbonmay be placed on the top of the cabinet 5, with the discharge spout ornozzle of the can inserted into the rubber-bushed inlet 9, whereupon theinlet-cock 8 of the carburetor and the discharge-cock 10 of the can maybe opened and the supply of gasoline be permittedto feed into thecarburetor without anyloss from evaporation or spilling. The carburetormay be charged with gasoline 87 proof, and the apparatus may be operatedWitlrfive gallons of the hydrocarbon or a larger or smaller quantity, asdesired, and

It will be convenient to explain first the the carburetor may be made ofany required size or capacity. In thebottom of the carburetor 4 issecured a vertical pipe 11, closed .at its upper end by a cap 12, orothetrwise,

and provided With a large numberof lateral perforations 13 for passageof air and gasoline. The lower end of this perforated pipe 11communicates, through elbows 14 and their connecting-tube 15, with apipe 16, extended vertically within the cabinet or casing 5 to a pointat or near a level with the top of the carburetor and preferably abovethe same, whereit connects through elbows 17with a descending air-pipe18, arranged on the outside of the carburetor-casing and leading fromthe air pump or compressor 3 of the gas apparatus. F It will be obviousthat when the carburetor is charged preparatory to making gas,thegasoline or other liquid hydrocarbon will stand at the same level in themain carbureting-chamber land in the pipe 16, afree passage for theliquid being afforded through the perforations in the pipe or tube 11 atthe bottom of the carburetor. nected with the pipe 16 or with the mainbody of the carburetor a glass gage 19 to indicate the height or surfacelevel of the body of gasoline supplied to the carburetor.

The air to be carbureted in the making of gas is supplied under a strongpressure from the air pump or compressor through the pipe 18, leadingtherefrom into the pipe 16, that communicates with the perforated pipe11 in the bottom of the carburetor. Before the air can gain entranceinto the carburetingcham her 4 it must drive before it and blow out ofthe pipes 16 and 11 all the gasoline standing therein, thus raising thegasoline in the chamber 4 in proportion to the quantity previouslycontained in said pipes. This operation involves a geyser-like action,the liquid hydrocarbon naturally seeking to maintain a uniform level inthe carburetor and connected pipes, which is resisted by the pressure ofthe entering currents of compressed air, so that the gasoline is lashedand churned, tossed and tumbled, and thereby beaten into a foam thatresults in converting all the gasoline into gas of uniform quality,

It will be observed that the body of gasoline in the carburetor 4: isagitated from the bottom by the numerous laterally-entering air-currentsthat are forced into the carburetor under a strong pressure from thepump or compressor. The lower portion of the carbureting-chamber 4. ispreferably contracted in diameter for a distance somewhat greater thanthe height of the perforated pipe 11, which will thus be immediatelysurrounded by a comparatively small body of gasoline. The air finds itsentrance into the body of gasoline through the lateral perforations 13in the pipe 11, and the bulk of gasoline in the contracted lower portionof the carburetor will be sufficiently small to secure a violent andthorough agitation from the bottom of the carburetor to the top of theperforated pipe, and even above the same, and the consequent intimatemingling of the gasoline and entering compressed air, that tends toexpand on escape from the perforated pipe, will result in a speedy,thorough, and uniform carburation. The gas thus produced will rise tothe top of the carburetor and pass thence through a pipe 20 to thegas-holder 2, hereinbefore mentioned. This pipe 20 is passed out throughthe carburetor-casing 5, and may run to the ground and thence through a,

trench or covered way to the gas-holder. In the top of the carburetor,below the entrance to the gas exit'pipe20, may be arranged'a trap 21 toprevent gasoline from being blown into said pipes. The operation of thecarburetor is perfectly safe, and is so simple that no skilledattendance is required. As only a small quantity of gasoline isrequired, the quality of the gas is always under easy and safe control,a greater quantity of gas than There may be con- I usual will beproduced from a given quantity of gasoline, and the gas will be ofbetter and more uniform'quality.

The carburetor can be easily moved from one location to another, itssimplicity of construction insures durability and efficiency, and it iscleanly, thorough, and economical in operation.

The gas holder or receiver 2 maybe of the ordinary construction,comprising a base portion or tank 22, open at the top and supplied withwater to a suffioient depth to provide a seal for the vertically-movableupper portion or gas-holder'2, which is a little smaller in diameterthan the base-section or tanlgso as to work freely up and down therein,the water sealing the gas contents after the usual manner of suchholders. The gas-pipe 20, from the carburetor 4, may connect with thegasholder at any suitable point, and a pipe .23 will also be provided todeliver the gas, as required, to the points of consumption.

Where it is desired to economize space, or for other purposes, amodified form of carburetor may be arranged within the gas-holder, asshown in Fig. 3. In this case the carburcting-chamber l may be made incylindrical form, open at the top, and with the bottom resting upon orformed by the bottom of the tank 22. The inclosed perforated pipe 11will communicate at its lower end with an outside vertical pipe 16 foradmission, first, of gasoline,and then air under pressure. The pipe 16may have a branch 24, provided with a funnel 25, through which thegasoline is to be poured, and a cook 26 to close off the saidbranch'pipe after the carburetor has been charged. With the pipe 16 isalso connected a tube or hose 27 for connection with an air pump orcompressor, and throughwhich, after the cook 26 is closed, air may beforced into the lower part of the carburetor and mingled with thegasoline by agitation therewith, in the same manner as alreadydescribed.

For'the ordinary purposes of a gas-machine designed for use in dwellingsa hand-pump or air-compressing device comprising a pair of bellows 28will be sufficient. These bellows 28 are supported in a suitable frame29, and are arranged with their smaller ends or discharge-orificesdownward and each in immediate communication with one of the twoair-inlet apertures 30 of an air chamber or reservoir 31 for compressedair that is arranged below the bellows or pump. These apertures or ports30 of the air-chamber are controlled by downwardly-opening flap-valves32, normally closed by springs 33, and asuitable air-supply valve 34 isalso provided for each bellows. Each inlet-port 30 ot' the airchamber 31has the same area as the entire end of the bellows connected thereto. Inthe top of the frame 29 is journaled a horizontally-arranged rock-shaft35,that carries about midway its length a vertical arm 36, to the upperend of which are pivotally connected two levers 37, extended in oppositedirections TOC V and pivoted at their. outer ends to arms 38,

secured to the movable side or half of each bellows; One end of therock-shaft is extended outside the cabinet or casing 1, and has attachedthereto an operating hand-lever 39, that may have either one or two armsor handles. Within the cabinet there may be secured to the rock-shaft 35a normally-depending arm or pendulum 40, to which may be attached anadjustable weight 41, the pendulum being designed to serve the purposeof a fly-wheel to aid the operation of the pump or bellows. By means ofthe hand-1e: ver 39 the rock-shaft 35 and attached arm 36 may beoscillated to cause an alternate operation of the bellows 28 to forceair into the chamber or compressed-air reservoir 31, before mentioned,and to which the air is thus supplied with great regularity at a rate ofaboutfifteen cubic feet per minute, with onetwentieth horse powerpropelling power.

. This hand-operated air compressing and forcingdevice is well adaptedfor the requirements of my gas-machine when designed particularly fordomestic purposes, illuminating, heating, and cooking.

When gas is to be supplied on a larger scale, it may be desirable tomount in the frame 29 a double crank-shaft 42, Fig. 4, having its cranksconnected, each by a pitman 43, to cross-heads 44, working in suitableguides 45 on said frame.

inder 48 of an air-pump. The lower end of each air-pump cylinder 48opens into one of the air-inlet ports 30 of the air-chamber 31 orcompressed-air reservoir. These'ports 30 should have the same shape andarea as the inside diameter of each pump-cylinder. As the plunger orpiston 47 descends, a valve 49 located therein is closed byair-pressure, and the air below the piston'being thus compressed forcesopen one of the valves 32 and enters the chamber or reservoir 31 belowthe pump. The ports 30 being of the same area as the pump-cylinders,there is no resistance aside from air-compression. Consequently, nomatter at what speed the plungers work the air from the cylinders willbe forced into the reservoir 31 with comparative ease. The

pacity of, say, fifteen cubic feet of airper minute, and will give avery high compression under a light-driving power.

The valved inlet-ports 30 of the compressedair chamber or reservoir 31may have an aggregate area of sixteen square inches. The

pipe 18, through which the compressed air is discharged from the chamberor reservoir 31 and conveyed to the carburetor, has, on the Eachcross-head 44 carries the rod 46 of a piston 47, working in the cylotherhand, an inside cross-sectional area of less than one square inch. Thelarge area of the inlet-ports 3O enables the bellows 28 or thepump-cylinders 48 to empty their air contents into the chamber 31 withthe least possible resistance, freely and speedily, while the pipe 18,through which air passes from the chamber 31 to the carburetor, beingmuch smaller than the said ports 30, it is obvious that a high degree ofcompression must take place in the air chamber or reservoir. The bottomsection 51 of the air-chamber 31 has a flexible construction after themanner of a bellows, s0 asto be capable of expanding and collapsing tovary the capacity of the said chamber according to the pressure therein.In its normal position the bottom board 52 of the chamber 31 is closedupward against the upper section of said chamber by means of spiralsprings 53, arranged beneath and bearing upward on said board. When, theair in the chamber 31 becomes compressedbeyonda given point, thebellows-like bottom of said chamber lowers as the pressure withinovercomes the resisting power of the supporting-springs, and this mannerof compressing and storing the air renders the work so light thatfifteen cubic feet of air per minute can be readily supplied to thecarburetor during the time that the pump or compressor is in operation.The importance of compressing the air supplied to the carburetor is wellunderstood, as by reason of its expansion after entering the carburetorit will more readily take up or absorb the gasoline vapors. Byintroducing this air into the bottom of the carburetor and under astrong pressure the gasoline will be thrown into violent agitation, aspreviously explained, and a better and more uniform quality of gas willbe obtained and the entire body of gasoline will be utilized, so thatits consumption will be greatly economized. -When gasoline is at rest,the dead or heavy portion of the liquid invariably settles to thebottom; but by causing the air to enter in strong currents atthe bottomof this liquid, as in my carburetor, the dead or heavy liquid of thelower levels will be caused to thoroughly mix with v the lighter portionof liquid above, thus obviating any residue'of dead gasoline andconverting the entire bulk of the liquid into gas. This effect isgreatly aided by forcing the airsupply for the carburetor through avertical pipe, as 16, in which the gasoline normally stands at the samelevel as in the main carbureting-chamber. Hence the most violentagitation takes place within th'ecarburetor when the air is forced intothe body of gasoline through the said pipe 16 and thence upward from thebottom of the carburetor, and consequently the gasoline is made ofuniform density and the air and liquid become thoroughly commingled Asanother'effect of this arrangement, the gasoline normally standingin thepipe 16 will serve to seal the pipes 16and .18 securely, so that novalve will be needed to prevent gas from escaping to the chamber 31 andconnected air-pump when the latter is not in operation.

In case the air pump or compressor should be operated for a longer timethan necessary, or after the gas-holder has become filled, it isadvisable that a safety-valve 54 be provided, preferably in theair-chamber 31, to prevent the gas-holder 2 from being forced out of itstank or base portion. The valve 54 is preferably arranged to closeupward and control a safety-port 55 in the top of the air-chamber 31,and the said valve is connected by a rod 56 to a lever 57, fulcrumed ona standard 58 at the top of said chamber. One end of this lever 57supports a weight 59, and the other end is pivotally connected to thelower end of a rod or link 60, that has its upper end pivotedto one endof a lever 61, fulcrumed midway its length to a support 62 at the top ofthe cabinet 1 'and carrying on its other end a dog 63, arranged inposition to be struck by the top of the gas-holder 2 when the latter isforced fully upward by the pressure of gas beneath it, the said holderbeing then charged to its full capacity. When the gas-holder 2 is in alowered position or not fully charged, the weight 59 will act on thelever 57 and connected rod 56, so as to close the valve 54 upward andprevent any escape of air from the chamber 31 through its safety-port55; but on the rise of the gas-holder 2 a sufficientdistance to makecontact with the dog 63 the lever 61 and connecting rod or link willoscillate the weighted lever 57 in a direction to open the safety-valve54, and consequently relievethe pressure in the air-chamber 31 andconnected carburetor, even though the hand air-pump should be operatedas by a careless attendant, longer than may be needed. On descent of thegas-holder the weight 59 will close the safety-valve 54, so that thechamber 31 will again serve as part of t-hecompressor when needed.

There may be connected to the top of the vertically-movable gas-holder 2one end of a cord 64, that is passed over pulleys 65 at the top of thecabinet 1 and thence downward adjacent to the inner side of the cabinetfront. From this cord 64 is suspended a small weight 66, carrying anindex-finger 67, that is passed through a vertical slot 68 in the frontof the cabinet. On the cabinet front and adjacent to theindicator-finger 67 is a vertical scaleplate 69 for showing the cubiccontents of the gas-holder. It is obvious that the rising and falling ofthe gasholder will cause a corresponding reverse movement of theweighted indicator, whereby the position of the concealed gas-holder andthe volume of its contents may be shown on a properly-graduated scale.

It is preferable to provide the top of the gas-holder 2 with'across-head 70, working in vertical guides 71 to cause the holder to movesteadily.

The cabinet 1 is provided with a door 72, that will afford access foroiling the air-pump,

setting the indicator, and other purposes. This cabinet, inclosing thegas-holder and accompanying air-pump and other parts of the apparatus,may be arranged as an article of kitchen furniture and is provided withsuitable pipe connections and attachments for burners arranged forilluminating, heating, and cooking purposes, as required.

In Fig. .6 is shown a modified form of carburetor 4 which may have aninclined bottom and a contracted chamber 4 depending therefrom,preferably at one side of the carburetor. Thecontractedcarburetor-chamber 4 incloses a laterally-perforated pipe or cap 11 oflarge diameter and comparatively short length. This cap 11* takes theplace of the pipe 11, hereinbefore described, as an inlet for air andgasoline from the pipe 16, which connects with the under side of chamber4 and perforated cap 11 by the elbows 14 and short connecting-pipe 15,before described. A filling-nozzle 7 may be connected to the top of thepipe 16, instead of the top of the carburetor, as before described. Theprinciple of operation in this form of carburetor is the same as alreadydescribed with reference to the other forms illustrated. By arrangingthe chamber 4'to one side, as shown in Fig. 6, the pipe 15 will beshortened, thus reducing the quantity of gasoline contained in said pipeand commensurately lessening the work of the air-pump. The shortlaterally-perforated cap 11 is submerged with a much lower level ofgasoline than a lengthened pipe, as 11, and will continue to permit themaking of good gas until the carburetor is almost empty. The cap 11 isclosed at the top and its perforations are lateral, the same as in thepipe 11, but exceed in aggregate area the perforated surface of the pipe11, before described, thus facilitating expansion of the compressed airadmitted to the cap and diminishing the work of the air-pump. By placingthe filling-nozzle 7 so as to connect with the top of the airpipe 16, inwhich gasoline also stands when rec IIC

the air compressor or pump is not in operation, it will be possible tofeed in gasoline without any obstruction from gas-pressure in thecarburetor and connected gas holder. The gasoline in the pipe 16 sealsthat pipe and prevents any back pressure of gas When the filling nozzle7 is opened. The gasoline poured into the pipe 16 through thefillingnozzle 7 will take the same level in the main body of thecarburetor, and the pipe 20 leading to the gas-holder will provide allthe vent necessary to secure a free flow of gasoline.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. In an apparatus for manufacturinggas from hydrocarbon liquid, the combination of a carburetor having inits lower part a laterally perforated air inlet, an outer pipecommunicatin g with said inlet and extended above the normal level ofhydrocarbon liquid in the carburetor, an air compressor having acompressed air chamber communicating with the upper end of said outerpipe, a gas holder com municating with the carburetor, and a safetyvalve communicating with the compressed air chamber and controlled froma moving part of the gas holder, substantially as described;

2. In an apparatus for manufacturing gas from hydrocarbon liquid, thecombination of a carburetor, a gas holder in communication with thecarburetor, an air chamber or reservoir from which compressed air may besupplied to the carburetor, and a safety valve connected with saidchamber and controlled from a moving part of the gas holder,substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for manufacturing gas from liquid hydrocarbon, thecombination with a carburetor and a gas holder communieating with thecarburetor, of an air chamber communicating with the carburetor andprovided with a safety-valve, lever mechanism for controlling said valvefrom the gas holder, and an air compressor communicating with the saidair chamber through valved ports of larger area than the port throughwhich the said air'chamber and carburetor communicate, substantially asdescribed.

4. In an apparatus for manufacturing gas from hydrocarbon liquid, thecombination with a carburetor, a gas holder in communication with thecarburetor, and an air compressor for supplying compressed air for thecarburetor, of an air chamber or reservoir having valved inletportscommunicating with, and of the same area as, the air compressor, a pipeor passage leading from said air chamber to the carburetor and havinglessarea than the air chamber inlet ports, and a safety valve for saidair chamber controlled from a of the cabinet, a weight suspended from acord connected with a moving part of the gas holder and passed overpulleys in the upper part of the cabinet, and an indicator carried bysaid Weight and projected through a slot in the cabinet adjacent to thescale plate to indicate the contents of the gas holder, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses:

ALBERT E. ALDRICH.

Witnesses:

EMMA S. ALDRICH, J. B. GORHAM.

